Montenegro

The land of Montenegro traces its statehood to the medieval realms of Duklja and Zeta. As the Ottomans conquered the Balkans, the Montenegrins retreated into their mountains and preserved a fierce independence found almost nowhere else in the region, governed for generations by Orthodox prince-bishops of the Petrovic-Njegos family, who were both spiritual and political leaders. Montenegro became a recognised kingdom, joined the South Slav state of Yugoslavia, and finally regained its full independence from Serbia by referendum in 2006.

Montenegro packs spectacular scenery into a very small area. High, rugged mountains, including dramatic peaks and deep canyons such as that of the Tara River, one of the deepest in the world, dominate the interior, while a short but breathtaking Adriatic coastline includes the Bay of Kotor, a winding inlet ringed by mountains that resembles a fjord. Glacial lakes, ancient forests, and the great national parks of the highlands give the country an outsized natural grandeur.

The flag of Montenegro is a red field with a gold border, bearing the national coat of arms in the centre. The coat of arms features a golden double-headed eagle, a symbol inherited from the Byzantine world and used by Montenegro's historic rulers, with a lion on a shield at its breast. The design draws on the royal standard of the old Montenegrin state, linking the modern republic to its proud heritage of independence.

The majority of Montenegrins are Eastern Orthodox Christians, a faith bound up with the country's identity and history, embodied in the centuries of rule by Orthodox prince-bishops. Questions of church organisation and identity, between Serbian and Montenegrin Orthodox traditions, are a sensitive feature of national life. There are also significant Muslim and Catholic minorities, especially among the country's Bosniak, Albanian, and coastal communities, reflecting its position at a crossroads of the Balkans.

Montenegrin cuisine reflects the country's split between the mountains and the sea. Inland, the food is hearty and meat-based, and the highland region of Njegusi is famous for its air-dried ham and cheese, cured in the mountain air. Along the Adriatic coast, the cuisine turns Mediterranean, rich in fresh fish, seafood, olive oil, and Italian influences. Grilled meats, dairy, and strong coffee feature throughout, in a food culture shaped by both Ottoman and Venetian neighbours.

Agriculture in Montenegro is limited by the overwhelmingly mountainous terrain, with farming concentrated in the few valleys, the area around Lake Skadar, and the coastal strip. Farmers grow grapes for wine, olives along the coast, tobacco, and a variety of fruits and vegetables, while the highlands support the raising of sheep and cattle and the production of the famous cured ham and cheese. Tourism along the spectacular coast, however, is far more important to the modern economy than farming.

Montenegro's centuries of mountain resistance to the Ottoman Empire, and its rule by prince-bishops who were also poets and statesmen, are central to its proud identity. It gained recognition as an independent kingdom in the nineteenth century before joining Yugoslavia. The defining recent event was the peaceful referendum of 2006, in which Montenegrins narrowly voted to separate from their union with Serbia, restoring the country's full independence, after which it joined the NATO alliance in 2017.

Montenegro has a population of around 620,000 people, one of the smallest in Europe, made up of Montenegrins and Serbs, whose distinct identities are closely intertwined and sometimes contested, along with significant Bosniak, Albanian, and other communities. This diversity, and the balance among its groups and churches, shapes the country's politics. Most people live along the coast and in the few valleys, above all in and around the capital, Podgorica, and the historic former capital of Cetinje.